Metal-bending tool



Nov. 26, 1929. J. R. HILSTAD METAL BENDING TOOL Filed July 1, 1925 -D mmm5 m. mH E W J. m

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN ROY HILS'IAD, OFWHITTIER, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE I ASSIGNMENTS, TOGEORGE G. GRIFFITH, OF MONROVIA, CALIFORNIA METAL-BENDING TOOLApplication filed July 1, 1925. Serial No. 40,963.

My invention relates to and has for its purpose the provision of a metalbending tool particularly adapted, although not necessarily, for thestraightening of bent or otherwise distorted automobile fenders andrunning board brackets, the tool being simple in construction and easilyoperated to restore any fender or bracket to its original form withoutthe necessity of removing the fender or bracket from the vehicle andwithout scratching or otherwise disfiguring the fender.

I will describe only one form of metal bending tool embodying myinvention and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view showing in longitudinalsection one form of metal bending tool embodying my invention in appliedposition to a fender and bracket.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the tool shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view showing the tool in end elevation and as applied to afender.

Referring specifically to the drawings, in which similar referencecharacters refer to similar parts in each of the views, my invention inits present embodiment comprises a lever L one end of which is adaptedto be pivotally supported in spaced relation to any support to which thetool is applied by a foot F and in such manner that a hooked member IImay have operative engagement with the article to be bent so that byexertin a pull on the lever the hooked member will e actuated to bendthe article as desired.

The lever L in the present instance comprises a fiat bar of suit-ablelength which is bent at a point intermediate of its ends so as to givethe lever the form of an anticlme. Secured to opposite sides of thelever at one end thereof are a pair of plates 15, the outer surfaces ofwhich are rounded and knurled as shown, so as to co-operate in providinga handle adapted to be gripped in the manipu lation of the lever.Adjacent the opposite end of the lever, the foot F is pivotallyconnected thereto and this foot in the present instance comprises acasting including a base 16 extending transversely of the lever andprovided on its upper side with a pair of arms or ears 17 through whichis extended a pivot pin 18 to pivotally secure the end of the leverbetween the arms. The base 16 has secured thereto a pad 19 formed of anysuitable soft material so as to prevent marring of the surface of thefender or any other article to which the tool is applied.

In order that the foot F may occupy proper operative position withrespect to the lever L and to thus facilitate the application of thetool to an article to be bent, a stop pin 20 is extended through thelever so as to be engaged by the arm 17 and thus eliminate the outwardswinging movement of the foot with respect to the lever.

The hooked member II is associated with the lever L so as to be capableof two adj ustments, one longitudinal of the lever and the othertransverse of the lever. The longitudinal adjustment of the hookedmember is effected through the medium of a bolt 21 extending through thebifurcated end of the hooked member, withthe lever received between thebifurcated end and formed at its upper edge adjacent the bent portion ofthe lever with a plurality of notches 22, the bolt being received withinany one of the notches and thereby pivotally supporting the hookedmember on the lever within any one of the notches. The transverseadjustment of the hooked member with respect to the lever is effected byan adjustment of the bolt longitudinal of the hooked member, and byproviding the bifurcated portion of the hooked member with a pluralityof openings 23, the bolt can be extended through any one of theseopenings thereby varying the position of the hooked end of the memberwith respect to the lever.

In practice, the tool is capable of being applied and manipulated toeffect the bendin of the fenders and the various. brackets used insupporting fenders and other parts of an automobile. However, adescription of the invention in one of its uses is being made asillustrated of all of its uses.

As shown in Figure 1, the tool is applied to an automobile fender forthe straightenscribed only one form of metal bending'tool ing of one ofthe fender supporting brackets, and in this adaptation the foot F isapplied to the inner edge of the crown of the tender so as to provide apivotal mounting for the lever L with the latter extended transverselyof the'tender'. In this p'IDSitl0n 0ff bl-16 lBV'Gl, the hooked memberH' clependsfrom the lever and by proper horizontal adjustmentrmay be vpositioned so that its hooked end engages the flange at the outer edgeof the Tender-at apoint directly beneath the point of connection of thebracket of the fendeizvVith'th-e tool applied in this manner, it will beclear that by gripping the handleand pulli-ngup wardly a force will beexerted on the lever to swing the latter upwardly about the 3 pivot 18as a center thereby pulling the hooked member upwardly with sufiicientforce to "bend the fender" bracket and thus restore the latter tooriginal form assumin'g that the horizontal portion of'the fenderbracket has the lever L ispul'l'ed-upwardly its inner pivotedend'p'ushes with downward force the foot F, but this force operates tono detriment in so far as bending the fender or bracket at the point ofcontact. In view'of the spaced relation of; the mounting for the leverand the hooked. members, it will be clear'thata greater leveragei's'pro'duced wliich facilitates the bending of the brackets and fen'de'rs'. By virtue of tlie'twoad'jus'tments "of the hooked member aswellias the'adjustability of the foot, the tool is adapted tofend ersand" brackets of various pr )portio'ns,v and in any of its uses providessimple and'e'fiective means "for restoring-the original contour ofa'bracket orfte'nderr Although I have herein shown and deenibodying myinvention, it is to be understood thatvarious changes and modificationsmay be made therein without departing from I the spirit of the inventionand the spirit and "scope ofthe appended claims;

\Vhat Iclaim is: .1. A metal bending tool 'comprisinga level",

a' supporting foot pivoted on oneend oiithe lever, a pin extending fromthe lever for limiting the'swingi -movement oft hefoot in one directionon the lever, and a hooked member bodily adjustable and'piv'oted on the"lever at a point spaced-from the foot.

2. A metal bending. toolcomprisin g a lever of anticlinalifoian, abifurcated'foot pivoted .on one end of the'lever, means'for limiting theswinging movement of the foot in one direction of the. lever, saidlleverbeing formed 4 ,with notches,and a bifurcated hooked mem- I her having apivot-pin extendedvthroughthe bifurcated portion of the memberandengaging with any one ofsaid notches: and adjustlever, meansforlimitingthe swinging movement ofthefoot 1n one lireetien (if tnelever,

said Ieverbing formedwith notches, and a bifurcated hooked member havinga pivot pin extended through the bifurcated portion of the 'member and'engaging with any one of said notches and adjustably and pivotallysupporting the-member on the lever.

JOHN ROY HILSTZXD.

been previously bent doi'vnwardl'y" or'inwardlyi Of course, itis tobeunderstoodthatas

